12  m/ 


DTIOlfll??? 


No.  I J  J. 

A  GREAT  QUESTION  ASKED  ? 

EV  REV.  JNO.  S.  GKASTY— Fincartlb. 


That  question,  oh  !  sinner  is  simply  this, 
why  will  you  die  ?  The  Prophet,  in  the  pre- 
sent instance,  speaks  not  of  bodily  dissolu- 
tion, but  of  a  death  spiritual  and  eternal — a 
death  that  never  dies  !  Why  will  the  sinner 
lie  down  in  everlasting  Iwn 

1.  Is- it  because  no  proviaibn  has 
made  for  life?  Not  at  all.  The  word  is, 
God  so  loved  (lie  world  that  He  gave  His 
only  begotton  Son  that  whosoever  believeth 
in  Him  should  not  perish  but  have  everlast- 
ing life.  It  is  a  faithful  saying  and  worthy 
ot  all  acceptation  that  Christ  Jesus  came  in- 
to the  world  to  save  sinners,  even  the  chief. 
He  that  believeth,  though  he  were  dead,  yet 
shall  he  live  again.  la  it  for  lack  of  invita- 
tion? Surely  this  is  not  the  reason  ?  Every 
class  is  invited.  Are  any  poor,  then  hearken 
to  the  words  of  the  Master,  when  He  had 
opened  the  Book  and  found  the  place  where 
it  was  written,  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon 
me  because  He  hath  anointed  me  to  preach 
the  gospel  to  the  poor,  &c.  Are  any  rich, 
then  let  them  take  courage  as  they  call  to 


mind  the  oases  of  Zaecheus  and  Joseph  of 
Arirnathea.  Those  in  tlie  morning  ot  life 
are  invited.  1  love  them  that  love  me  and 
they  that  seek  me  shall  find  me.  But  the 
old  too  are  not  forgotten,  for  the  househol- 
der goes  out  even  at  the  eleventh  hour  to 
enquire  if  there  are  any  that  he  idle  and  if 
he  finds  such  in  the  market  place  or  else- 
where, \he  bids  even  these  to  enter  into  His 
vineyard  and  work.  -How  gentle  are  His 
words  to  any  who  are  afflicted  and  sorrow- 
In  1,  come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden  and  I  will  give  you  rest.  The 
invitation  is  to  all.  Ho  !  every  one  that 
thirsteth  come  ye  to  the  waters,  and  he  that 
hath  no  money,  come  ye,  buy  and  eat,  yea, 
come  buy  wine  and  milk  without  money  and 
without  price.  Christianity  differs  front 
every  false  religion  in  this;  4hat  its  invitiK 
lions  are  universal,  while  its  remedies  are 
applicable  to  all  countries  and  to  every  class. 
2.  The  exhortation  is  urgent.  Why  toil! 
you  die  !  The  pulpit  asks  this  question  eve- 
ry Sabbath,  and  the  spirit  of  God,  like  a 
still  small  voice,  follows  us  everywhere, 
both  in  solitude  and-  society,  and  its  ques- 
tion all  the  while  is,  why  will  you  die  ?  The 
worth  of  truth  again  is  full  of  solemn  Warn- 
ings, it  is  sharper  than  a  two  edged  sword, 
•and  added  to  all  this  is- the  ever  recurring 


Providence  of  God.  Our  Heavenly  Father 
tries  His  mercies  first  and  then  come  health 
and  stieugth  and  food  and  gladness,  but*  if 
His  bounties  tail,  afflictions  and  the  rod  are 
visited  upon  us.  We  are  made  to  ieel  that 
sin  is  an  evil  thing  and  a  bitter.  "The 
Church  of  God,  once  more,  adds  her  testi- 
mony, she  cries  unto  those  who  are  ready  to 
perish,  come  thou  with  us  and  we  will  do  you 
good,  tc"?  the  Lord  God  hath  spoken  good 
concerning  Israel.  The  Saviour  Himself 
exhorts  us.  I  am  the  way  and  the  truth 
and  the  life.  He  points  to  His  obedience, 
sufferings  and  resurrection.  He  tells  us  of 
the  worm  that  dies  not  and  the  fire  that  is 
not  quenched.  He  lifts  *be  everlasting  veil 
and  bids  us'hearken  to  the  voice  ot  a  ruined 
soul.  He  then  turns  upon  us  again  with  the 
question— why  ivill  you  die  % 

3.  But  is  hot  salvation  afar  off.  A-  thing  of  much 
mystery — a  matter  for  long  pilgrimages  and  wast- 
ing toil !  Not  at  all — not  at  all!  Simplicity  itself 
describes  the  whole  scheme— it  is  a  look,  one  single 
heart  cry  to  God.  Just  where  yon  ore  and  just  as 
you  are,  cast  all  upon  Jesu*  and  you  are  saved  I  Say 
not  in  thy  heart  who  shall  ascena  into  heaven,  that 
is  to  bring  Christ  down  from  above,  or  who  shall 
descend  into  the  deep,  that  is  to  bring  up  Christ 
again  from  the  dead  ;  but  what  saith  it,  the,  word  is 
nigh  t  lire  eyetl  in  thy  mouth  and  in  thv  heart,  that 
is  the  word  of  faith  which  we  preach,    that  if  thou 


shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised 
Him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.  But  shall 
I  not  wait  for  a  revival,  for  a  season  more  favorable 
than  the  present.  The  answer  is  peremptorily:- 
Wait  not  a  moment,  now  is  the  accepted  time,  now 
is  the  day  of  salvation.  It  matters  not  if  it -be  the 
crowded  city  or  the  solitary  country  or  the  deadly 
battle  field,  the  place  is  nothing,  only  look  up  witli 
thy  hea*rt  to  Christ  and  salvation  is  sure.  Then 
why  will  you  die..  Is  it  because  death  has  more 
advantages  than  life?  Is  sin  preferable  to  holiness 
— is  Hell  a -sweeter  home  for  eternity  than  Heaven. 
Can  we  exist  more  gloriously  apart  from  God  than 
when  dwelling  in  His  blissful  presence.  Is  our  own 
strength- sufficient,  for  the  trials  that  await  us! — 
Then  why  will  we  die. 

Why  will' you  die.  Sinner,  shall  we  answer  the 
question  for  you.  If  we  speak  the  truth  be  not  of- 
fended. Our  answer  is,. ye  do  not  desire  to  be  sav 
ed.  The  quilty  one  does  not  wish  for  life.  Said 
the  Saviour,  oh  !  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  thou  that 
killest  the  'prophets  and  stoniest  them  that  were  sent 
unto  thee,  how  often  would  I  have  gathered  thy 
children  as  a  hen*  doth  gather  her  brood  under  her 
wings  and  ye  would-  not.  The  sinner  perishes,  not 
because  lie  is  reprobated  nor  because  Christ's  atone- 
ment is  insufficient,  nor  because -he  is  ignorant  and 
uninvited,  but  he  perishes  simply  and  solely  because 
he  is  a  sinner  and  because  lie  wills  to  be  such.-— 
The  lost  company  in  hell  is  composed  of  those  who 
would  not  come  .to  Ch/ist  that  they  might  have 
life.     Tiiisn  sinneh  wiry  WILL  you  DTK, 


No.   114. 

FAITH  AND  WORKS. 


BY  REV.  J  NO.  8.  GRASTY. 


There  are  certain  texts  in  the  sacred 
Scriptures,  which  to  a  superficial  reader, 
seem  to  contradict  each  other.  In  one  place 
tlie  Bible  says, whosoever  hcareth  these  say- 
ings of  mine  and  doeth  them,  I  will  liken 
him  unto  a  Wise  man  which  built  his  house 
upon  a  rock  and  the  rain  descended  and  the 
floods  came  and  the  winds  blew  and  beat 
upon  that  house  and  it  fell  not  for  it  was 
founded  upon  a  rock.  Work  out  your  own 
salvation  with  fear  and  trembling.  If  any 
man  will  come  after  me  let  him  deny  him- 
self and  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  me.-r 
Show  me  thy  faith  without  thy  works  and 
i  will  show  thee  my  faith  by  my  works. — 
For  we  must  all  appear  before  the  judgment 
seat  of  Christ,  that  every  one  may  receive 
the  things  done  in  his  body  recording  to  that 
be  "hath  clone  whather  it  be  goo. 1  or  bad. 
On  the  other  hand  the  Bible  tells  us  that  we 
are  saved  by  grace,  through  faith  and  that 
not  of  ourselves,  for  it  is  the  gift  of  God. 
The  Apostle  informs  us  that  boasting  is  ex- 
cluded and  that  by  the  deeds  of  the  law 
there  shall  no  flesh  be  justified  in  His  sight. 


Bfe'tliafc  believeth  on  the  Sou  hath  life.     In 
a<  word,  we  are  jasfi/led  by  faith. 

Now,  do  the  Scriptures  really  contradict 
themselves.  By  no  means  !  In  this  celes* 
tml  volume  all  is  harmony.  Faith  has  its 
place  and  so  nave,  works.  We  are  justified 
by  the  one  while  we  are  judged  by  the  oth- 
er.. Tile  Apostle  James  does  not  preach  a 
irew  or  contradictory  doctriue  when  he  saysy 
faith  without  works  is  dead— show  me  thy 
faith  without  thy  works  and  I  will  show  thee 
my  faith  by  my  works.  He  only  means  to 
reassert  and  establish  the  connection  be>- 
tween  the  two.  It  is  the  old  idea  of  the  tree 
and1  its  fruit,  the  vine  and  its  branches,, 
b?o eight  before  our  minds  in  ye.t  another 
form.  If  a  man  has  faith  there  is  a  way  to4 
demonstrate  it,  that  way  is  by  works.  Here- 
by we  ascertain  and  are  assured- of  the  faith 
of  yibraham  He  offered  up  Isaac,  account- 
ing that  God  was  able  to  raise  him  up  even 
from  the  dfitd,  Abraham's  works  illustrat- 
ed his  faith,  proved  its  existence  and  denioD- 
UrXed  its  genuineness.  And  this -corres- 
ponds with  the  words  of  our  Saviour,  when 
lie  says,,  by  this  shall  all  men  know  that  ye- 
ars my  disciples  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  com- 
lna-ndyou.  Faith  is  the  intrumental  condi- 
tion of  justification,    it  is    a  saving   grace 


"wfeereby  wo  receive   and-  rest   upon  -£eem&' 

Christ  and  Mini  alone,  as  Ife  is  ottered-  touls 
in  the  Gospel.  But  faith  is  an  act  of  wffich 
none  can  be  cognizant  but  the  soul  audits 
God.  So  far  as  respects  all  other  persons, 
angels  or  men,  the  transaction  is  secret.  The 

•universe,  therefore,  must  have  some  other 
standard  by  which  to  judge  of  the  creature 
than  that  of  faith.  A  tree  is  not  known  by 
certain  hidden  qnalties  or  substances, though 
these  may  give  it  life,  but  by  its  fruit.  And 

-the  Apostle  speaks  with  true  inspiration 
when  he  says,  show  me  thy  faith  without 
thy  works  and  I  will  show  thee  my  faith  by 
my  works.       Works  are   the   Fruit*  wlii/h 

J  faith  hangs  out  to  the  eye  of  the  beholder. 
These  two  go  together,  they  are  never 'divor- 
ced, and  yet.  faith  is  not  work,  neither  is 
work  faith.  But  as  faith  and  works  are' in- 
separable and  as  the  latter  can  be  seen, 
wfifle  the  form  ;r  is  invisible,  it  is  but'f<»ir 
to  the  judge,  to  the  spectators  and  to  the 
party  to  .be  judged  that  the  deeds  done  in 

'the  body  should  constitute  the  rule  of  judg- 
ment. For  God  has  declared  that  there '"is 
nothing  covered  that  shall  not  be  revealed, 
neither  hid  that  shall  not  be  known.  And 
thus  while  we  are  justified  by  faith  and. faith 
only,  yet  we  shall  be  jxidgkd  hereafter  by  .oar 


works.  The  hooks  shall  bo  opened  and 
everyone  receive  sentence  according  to  that 
he  hath  done.  Justification  by  faith  is  nowr 
as  ever,  the  sign  of  a  standing  or  ialli?  g 
Church-  but  if  faith  and  works  are  never- 
disunited  in  the  true-ehild'of  God,  it  surely 
can  breed  ro  confusion  in  the  final  day  to 
judge  the  tree  by   its  fruits. 

If  what  we  have  now  said  be*  true, 'tin -r,< 
these  apparently  contradictory  Scriptu  e& 
are  entirely  harmonized.     By  faith  we  are 

justified,  made   at  peace  vvilh  God  and  ml 
mi  tied  into  the  family  cf  Christ;  by   wWkii 
this  ggeat  benefit  become  palpable,  so 'that 

.men  take  k.  owl  edge  of  us  that  we  have 
been  with  Jesus!  while  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment, God's  eye  will  look  down  at  the  heart 
and  upon  thai  faith  which  no  eye  but  His- 
can  see,  yet  the  judge  in  vindication  of  His 
righteous  sentence  shall  point  to  those  la- 
bors of  love,  those  deeds  done  in  the  body, 
which  are  the  works  or  fruits  of  belief,  and 
which  are  manifest  to  the  creature  as  well 
as  the  creator.  Thus  mercy  and  truth  shall 
meet  together,  righteousness  and  peace  shall 
kiss  each  other.  Let  every  man,  therefore, 
see  to  it  that  behave  both  faith  and  works. 
For  without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please 
God  and  yet  faith  without  ivories  is  dead. 


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